Everyone loves elephants‑ at least as cartoon characters, or circus performers in gaudy costumes. Actually living on earth with elephants is another matter; we don't much need them as work animals any more, they occupy valuable land, and if we can't hunt them for their tusks, what good are they? Scientists are racing the clock to understand the complex social behaviors of wild elephant herds while these herds still exist. New research shows that elephant communication is more sophisticated than anyone thought.